Report Detailing Commonsense Approach for Postal Service Budget Deficit Released

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Greeting Card Association (GCA) released a report outlining a commonsense solution to address the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) budget deficit and set it on a sustainable path without cutting valuable services or increasing prices.

“No one denies that the Postal Service is in trouble, but we believe it is imperative to exhaust all available options that do not degrade service or erode the Postal Service’s competitive position with respect to alternative providers” said Rafe Morrissey, GCA Vice President of Postal Affairs. “And to help shift the national conversation toward real solutions, we are releasing this report that lays out a commonsense approach that puts the Postal Service on a path to solvency without cutting critical services or raising rates. Our goal is to work with members of the mailing community and the USPS to find commonsense solutions that maintain consumer use of the mail stream.”

The GCA analysis drew from both Government Accountability Office (GAO) and USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports. It outlines more than 100 deficit reduction proposals that do not cut critical services or raise prices, including 54 proposals that could be implemented immediately without Congressional legislation or collective bargaining.

“We agree with Congress and others that the Postal Service must be fixed to continue providing valuable and affordable service to millions of Americans,” Morrissey continued. “To date, the idea that has received the most attention has been ending Saturday delivery, but our report shows that there are many more options on the table.”

The GCA’s exhaustive review of existing recommendations from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) shows that there are more than 100 alternative savings options available to put the Postal Service on a sustainable path to financial solvency without cutting service or raising rates.

Morrissey concluded: “Our commonsense approach focuses on structural reforms that will achieve the necessary operational efficiency and cost savings. More importantly, we provide flexibility to all stakeholders with more than 100 alternative proposals that preserve the universal service and affordable prices that consumers expect and deserve from the Postal Service.”